NORWICH — The Wildcats only had 181 total yards, but hardly needed more against the overwhelmed Saints. Defensive lineman Tyler Beauchesne and linebacker Anthony Gomes were responsible for the first touchdown when Beauchesne stripped the ball from Saints quarterback Phil Jenkins and Gomes returned it five yards for the touchdown. It was the first of two NFA defensive scores and Marcus Outlow (83 yards rushing) added another on a 75-yard punt return.

Game 2: Sept. 22 — NFA 48, Woodstock 7

WOODSTOCK — Another incomplete game for the Wildcat starters, who put up 48 points in the first half and then sat the entire second half of the game. For the second game in a row, the NFA defense scored first when Steve Makowicki recovered a fumble in the end zone. Quarterback Joey Paparelli only had to rush for 57 yards and throw for 54 in the win.

Game 3: Sept. 29 — NFA 34, Fitch 27

NORWICH — The key play came with 5 minutes, 59 seconds left when Fitch decided to go for two points and the lead rather than settle for the tie. Fitch quarterback Devante Anderson, who had just scored on a 1-yard dive, got the benefit of two offsides calls to move the ball to the one-yard line but his dive attempt was stopped short by the Wildcats. “That was the game-changer right there,” said Beauchesne. The Wildcats responded with an 11-play, 63 yard drive that ended in a Khaleed Exum-Strong two-yard run to clinch the win.

Game 4: Oct. 5 — NFA 39, Ledyard 14

LEDYARD — The Wildcats got a little help from the Colonels, who turned the ball over five times in the first half. NFA cashed in by scoring on two of those to take the early lead. Outlow had 94 of his 163 yards on only five carries in the first half. Paparelli added 76 yards on 17 carries for the Wildcats, who put the finishing touches on the win with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Game 5: Oct. 12 —NFA 47, East Lyme 6

NORWICH — In its only home night game of the season, Outlow had a typical Outlow performance. Even though he carried the ball only nine times, he torched the Vikings for 120 yards and three touchdowns as NFA rolled to a 28-0 halftime lead. Paparelli was able to get some air time in as well, completing 4 of 6 passes for 136 yards, including a 55-yard TD pass to Ryer Caruso. The senior receiver-defensive back also returned an interception 99 yards for a score.

Game 6: Oct. 20 — NFA 51, Stamford 0

NORWICH — An easy win that produced the most controversial ending to a game this season. The Wildcats went up 49-0 on a 12-yard run by Outlow (137 yards), and then, with just over two minutes left in the game, a blocked punt resulted in a safety that broke the CIAC’s 50-point rule. Instead of challenging the penalty — a one-game suspension for the head coach — NFA’s Jemal Davis literally enforced it upon himself the following day. “We have rules and regulations to adhere to and if we don’t, there’s penalties — I respect that,” Davis said after the game.

Page 2 of 2 - Game 7: Oct. 27— NFA 31, Bacon Academy 6

COLCHESTER — Davis was nowhere in sight — by CIAC rules he couldn’t be — and the Wildcats played one of their worst games of the season. Plagued by miscues, the Wildcats still built a 21-0 lead by the half on a nine-yard Ramel Williams score, a 43-yard Paparelli carry and a 75-yard punt return by Outlow, who finished with 110 yards rushing.

Game 8: Nov. 2 — NFA 40, Griswold 14

JEWETT CITY — It was a night for sophomore Khaleed Exum-Strong to shine. He became the second-half workhorse and came up with his first 100-yard game on 21 carries to help the Wildcats to the win. Exum-Strong’s performance was made a little easier by the fact that NFA enjoyed a 33-point lead at the end of the first half thanks to Paparelli (four carries, 123 yards), who scored on an 80-yard run and added touchdown passes of 30 yards (to Caruso) and 55 yards (to Nick Cardelle).

Game 9: Nov. 10 — NFA 27, Waterford 0

NORWICH — The Wildcats made a decision to concentrate on something they thought would help two weeks later and that resulted in just 13 first-half points — not that the Wildcats were worried. “We were trying to work through the air, get that going,” said Paparelli who completed 7 of 13 passes for 68 yards, but more importantly set the ground work for a game plan NFA would use against New London. Paparelli ended up with 148 yards rushing while Outlow tossed in 147 on the ground to lead the Wildcats, who clinched their Class LL playoff berth.

Game 10: Nov. 22 — NFA 28, New London 7

NEW LONDON — The work against Waterford paid off in New London when Paparelli hit Caruso with a pair of play-action passes that went for touchdowns and Outlow added a 46-yard score on a fourth-and-two play to give the Wildcats their second perfect regular season in three years.

Game 11: Nov. 28 — NFA 63, Newtown 21

NEWTOWN — On a cold night, fifth-seeded NFA advanced to the Class LL semifinals for a second time in three years with the quarterfinal victory. The Wildcats broke out to a 21-0 lead over the previously undefeated Nighthawks, but it was a defensive play that was the key to the contest. Paparelli picked off a pass and returned it 39 yards for a score following a Newtown touchdown, and later a defensive stand put the momentum back on the Wildcats’ side. Outlow finished with 168 yards rushing and 112 receiving with three touchdowns.

Game 12: Dec. 2 — NFA 30, Staples 28

WEST HAVEN — Two key defensive plays by Airec Ricks helped the Wildcats hold off the Wreckers and advance to their first Class LL championship game since 1998. Ricks knocked down an option pitch to foil a Staples’ drive early in the fourth quarter, and then with 2 minutes, 39 seconds left, smartly picked up an NFA punt that hit the back heel of a Staples player to seal the victory. Paparelli rushed for 117 yards, including a 64-yard run at the beginning of the fourth quarter that set up what proved to be the game-winning score by Exum-Strong.